LinuxMCE Forums

I have been scrounging around to put together a MD.
I a trying to keep the build a cheap as possible so I can hopefully have enough soon to build another.

I was looking at this barebones as a good starting point.  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856110057 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856110057)
I think this is the  ASUS M2NPV-VM in a ASUS case with PS.

I think I can get the Asus mobo from the WIKI (above) for around $70. I would rather get my own htpc case. The problem is keeping in under $100.00.
Almost every decent htpc I have seen runs at least $149 with a PS.

My origonal budget was:
Mobo - $70  ASUS M2NPV-VM
CPU - $70   AMD X2 4000+
Ram - $25 Generic 512MB
DVD/RW - $30 Whatever is on sale at newegg
Case - $100 - (??????????????)

I've searched countless web stores and Ebay to try to find a deal but I have not found one that fits my $. Any ideas?
I've searched silverstone, antec, thermaltake, D-Vine etc..

Regards,
Blair

look for the Hiper HMC-1S53A. It's available for 60€ in Germany. I think i will use it with the MSI 7??? mATX board (see Wiki). 200 watt ps and raiser card included. Only slim line optical drives supported (adapter included).

best regards,
Hari

I should have said I am east coast US.
I didn't see any Hiper cases local. I did see that model for 50 pounds. Without shipping(which would cost a lot) it is out of my price range.
Case is very efficient looking.

I am interested in that MSI boards also but I can't find it anywhere other than in a MSI Media Live which is very nice but beyond my means.

Regards,
Blair

I just won this one off Ebay. problem solved.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article104-page1.html (http://www.silentpcreview.com/article104-page1.html)

;D

Regards,
Blair

$76, not bad for a Retail Recomended Price of $230

It's bigger than I wanted, but for the price I couldn't pass it up.

I still need a case that will fit in a smaller area. My upstairs entertainment area has only 5" between shelves.

Regards,
Blair

I know you already got a case, but in if anyone else is looking for a good deal on htpc case there is this antec from zipzoomfly for 55 AR.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006028 (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006028)

I am still looking for a slim case < 5" high. 

here is a decent case @ www.directron.com that is 3.6" high, i am about to buy one myself... it is only $47.99
http://store.yahoo.com/directron/bt611.html

Thank you everclever.
I had been looking at a similar In Win case on newegg.
The only two things I am unsure of on this case is that I think the add on cards have to be half height. That makes things a pain and more expensive.
***Not sure if half height means for card clearance or the metal piece that connects the card needs to be low profile also.***
I am also nervous buying from a yahoo store that is not the actual shipper for the item.
I appreciate the heads  up.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108060 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108060)
I linked it from Newegg if anyone wants to read the reviews

Regards,
Blair

One case to consider is the Point of View M Station.  I bought it for €38.-  It's too large for you, but it's cheap.  No PSU.

I ended up finding more stuff to sell on Ebay.  Got enough to get an ANtec Fusion Black.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129030 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129030)

Got it for less off pricegrabber.com ended up costing around $150 with shipping included in that price.

Regards,
Blair

Quote from: DeadPenguin on December 11, 2007, 05:35:06 AM
I ended up finding more stuff to sell on Ebay.  Got enough to get an ANtec Fusion Black.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129030 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129030)

Got it for less off pricegrabber.com ended up costing around $150 with shipping included in that price.

Regards,
Blair

Any report on this case ???  I just ordered one but I am hearing bad things about the color of VFD or LCD
Have you got the lcd to work under LinuxMce??



Thanks

Quote from: tkmedia on December 17, 2007, 11:27:13 PM
Any report on this case ???  I just ordered one but I am hearing bad things about the color of VFD or LCD
Have you got the lcd to work under LinuxMce??

Thanks

I just got the guts from Newegg today  I am going to build tonight. I spent a few hours yesterday pouring through the Ubuntu Forums. 
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=611469

I am hoping this one is right
[url]http://ohioloco.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3953161] (http://[/url)

I am hoping this one is right
http://ohioloco.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3953161
Especially this part ---"I needed only install lcdproc and set the Driver in the [server] section of LCDd.conf to imon. Then restart, and it looks like it works."

If I get it all together I will try to install Kubuntu and see if I can get the vfd working.
I'll keep you posted.

Regards,
Blair

Great,

Thanks

If someone has the antec fusion can you please let me know where the MIB PWR + GND connect?
The Antec Manual is garbage. Almost missed where I had to plug in the 3pin from the 24pin power cable.


I am using a asus m2npv-vm mobo.
Wishing I bought a sata dvd writer for this build. (would have  made cable management a little easier.

I was reading up on this yesterday I believe those replace the power leads and the power leads go to the lcd/vfd to bring it out of sleep mode. I will see if I can find the post and link it here.


Edit: Here is the quote I found

QuoteJust an update:

I contacted Antec support about not being able to put the computer into Standby using the remote an IR on the Fusion Black. They advised that I needed to hook the case power switch wires to the LCD and the "MBR PWR" and "GND" wires from the LCD to the PW Switch pins on the motherboard.

This requires you to take the entire front panel off the case, uninstall the LCD. Open the LCD case. Connect the power switch cables to two pins on the LCD that aren't really labelled and somehow manage to get back cover back on the LCD. The only way to get the back on would be to cut a hole in it where you've plugged in the power switch cables. It won't fit otherwise.

Hope it's not that complicated.  :(
Let me know what you find.

I was pretty tired by the time i posted that last night. the M/B PWR and GND wires are so the unit can power on via remote.

Not an option I care about so the will remain unattached. For those that want that feature look here. Found the answer in the support FAQ.

http://www.antec.com/us/support_roductInfo_FAQ.php?Qnumber=12&FAQno=24 (http://www.antec.com/us/support_roductInfo_FAQ.php?Qnumber=12&FAQno=24)

also in the support FAQ:

QuoteI want to run the VFD with Linux. Can I?
A Linux driver for the Soundgraph iMON-compatible VFD included in your Fusion case is available at http://venky.ws/projects/imon/#standalone

I hope to have a pic of the VFD working for you soon.

Regards,
Blair

Any luck getting the vfd going?

I have been sick the last couple days and haven't had time to devote to it.
I installed lcdproc via apt-get and changed the LCDd.conf settings and that didn't do anything for me.

I tried the standalone imon driver, but it gave me an error right off the bat with the kernel headers not being in /udr/src/linux (/linux doesn't exist)

It looks like people have it working I think it might beyond my grasp. I will keep trying.

I installed lirc and lirc-modules-sources via apt and modprobed lirc-imon.
I did echo -n "hello" /dev/lcd0 and got a permission denied.
I found a german site that showed me how chmod the dev/lcd0 so I had permission, but then it just said device is busy when I tried to echo to device.

I am still sick and now a little frustrated.  >:(

I'll have some time this weekend to try again.

Regards,
Blair

Thanks for trying

Hope you feel better.


Just got my case today.

Trying to get it to turn on by remote what a PIA.


does your lcd show anything at boot?   Are  they suppose to.

I connected the wires per the instructions and the pc boots from the power switch, but not from the remote. I tried most buttons. I assume the start button is suppose to start the pc.

Again feel better.

Update:
I helps if I plug the lcd into the power.

Now booting from remote. 8)

Gee What do you know The PC button on the Remote is the one to turn PC on.

New MOBO should be here soon! can wait to try it with the suspden option.

The case instructions are bad. Download from the Antec site if you need them.


Let me how you make out.

Thanks.